Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Meet The "Tulip/Yellow Poplar" Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

The Tulip Poplar or Yellow Poplar -(Liriodendron tulipifera)- is a large deciduous tree that grows in an upright fashion.  The leaves are green and appear to have the ends almost cut off.  The flowers are green and yellow in color and grow upright in a bowl or cup shape.  The flowers generally appear at the ends of twigs.  The fruit is very distinct and are made up of many narrow-winged seeds.   The Poplar has a fairly rapid growth rate and can grow upwards of 170 feet (mainly in forest settings).


Image Citation (Photos 1 &2) :(?) Bonsak Hammeraas, Bioforsk - Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Bugwood.org - See more at: http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5369166#sthash.mnsW72Im.dpuf

Generally found in the Eastern half of the United States it is one of the largest native trees in the area.  They are often times planted as an ornamental, due to their large size when mature careful placement should be used considered before planting.  

Image Citation (Photo 3) :(?) USDA Forest Service, Forest Operations Research Archive, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org - See more at:http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5475414#sthash.HAfNZw2c.dpuf


The wood is a hardwood that is used in lumber production and is often marketed overeas as American Tulipwood.  Comparable to White Pine in lumber strength-it is highly sought after for use in both interior construction and wood carving type projects.  This lumber is affordable and very easy to work with due to it's softer and lighter characteristics-making it a favorite for interior building framing and wood carving alike.  Many say it is termite resistant and it is often used for barn and house sill plates in the South.  The wood of the Poplar can be burned as firewood, but burns much faster than a more dense Oak or Hickory wood so it is not highly sought after for this reason.  

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